Evaluation of trace metal concentration in commonly consumed marine fish and shellfish in Tok Bali, Kelantan

Fast moving industrialization and economic development in Malaysia has affected the coastal region by increasing water pollution and pollutants that was deposited into water and cause serious changes which in turn directly or indirectly affect the ecological balance of the environment. Water pollution will create extensive damage and even mass mortality to the life and activities of aquatic organisms because of their high toxicity and accumulative. Heavy metals can enter the food web through direct consumption of water or organisms or through uptake processes and be potentially accumulated in edible fish.The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) were measured in flesh, gill and liver of four fish species (Decapterus macrosoma., Leiognathus daura, Euthynnus affinis and Pampus argenteus) and two shellfish species (Fenneropenaeus indicus and Portunus pelagicus.) collected from Tok Bali port in Kelantan. The concentration of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn were carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The concentration of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were higher in gill and liver than those in flesh. Levels of metals concentration varied depending on different tissues in species. The levels of Cd and Pb were relatively low in all analyzed species. Health Risk Assessment of the heavy metal content in fish species is particularly important because of fish is an important food resource for human consumption and a major component of the marine ecosystem. Studies on the presence of heavy metals in marine fish will contribute to the accumulation of new data on their levels in commercially important species from Tok Bali port, including for estimating the risk for kelantanese consumer. Results showed that some of the observed heavy metal contents have lower concentration of mean values than the permissible limits set by FAO/WHO in analyzed samples. In this study, both species that are fish and shellfish species are safe to be consumed.